Pastor’s Biography 

            The Rev. Dr. Karl R. Herman grew up in the village of Rauchtown, Pennsylvania, graduating from the Jersey Shore Area School District, receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Grove City College and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Lancaster Theological Seminary.  He was ordained an elder in the United Methodist Church in the 1990’s.  He came to Trinity UMC after serving the Pine Grove-McAlisterville Charge in Juniata County.  Prior to that he served as pastor the six churches of the Valleys’ Parish in Path and Amberson Valleys here in the Chambersburg District.

            He resides in the parsonage with his wife Dustie, their daughter Sophia and son Logan.  Dustie is the former Dustie McCurdy of Shippensburg, whose sister and parents reside in Shippensburg.  Karl’s only sister, Kay, lives in Warren, Ohio where she works for Delphi.  Karl’s parents are retired and live in Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, between Lock Haven and Williamsport.  Karl plays the clarinet and alto and soprano saxophones and collects Pez dispensers and Legos.

Dr. Herman notes, “The local church is a place to empower the laity to be in ministry and mission together, sometimes inside the structure of the congregation, sometimes outside of it.  Trinity UMC has a wonderful reputation for being in mission and ministry.  As the old saying goes, though, ‘Yesterday’s home run won’t win tomorrow’s ball game.’  Let us therefore continue to spread Jesus’ love.  There are occasions on which conflict might arise within a congregation.  Conflict can be powerful and positive because it forces a congregation to consider alternatives, make a decision and move forward.  No one individual or group might get all that he, she or they desire, but we must believe in the power of all of us working together to discern and carry out God’s will.  Some of my most fulfilling moments as a pastor have been working with children and youth.  They are not just a big part of the Church of the future but, as they remind us now and then, a major part of the God’s holy invisible Church today!  People outside the Church too often don’t recognize the difference between being pious and being boring.  We can help them with that.  The beginning of the Third Millennium is an exciting time; Trinity UMC is an exciting place!”